• Relationships: Traits of a Good Friend

    • A friend is a person you can trust,
    • Who won’t turn away from you;
    • A friend will be there
    • When you really need someone,
    • And will come to you when they need help.
    • A friend will listen to you even
    • When they don’t understand
    • Or agree with your feelings;
    • A friend will never try to change you,
    • But appreciates you for who you are.
    • A friend doesn’t expect too much
    • Or give too little;
    • A friend is someone you can share
    • Dreams, hopes, and feelings with.
    • A friend is a person you can think of
    • And suddenly smile;
    • A friend doesn’t have to be told
    • That they are special,
    • Because you both feel that way
    • A friend will accept your attitudes,
    • Ideas, and emotions
    • Even when their own are different,
    • And will hold your hand when you’re scared
    • A friend will be honest with you
    • Even when it might hurt, and will forgive you
    • For the mistakes you make.
    • A friend can never disappoint you,
    • And will support you and share in your glory.
    • A friend shares responsibility
    • When you have doubts.
    • A friend always remembers
    • The little things you’ve done,
    • The times you’ve shared, and the talks you’ve had.
    • A friend will bend over backwards
    • To help you pick up the pieces
    • When your world falls apart.
    • A friend is one of life’s most beautiful gifts.

    – Luann Auciello

    Wow, some powerful words and wonderful reminders of the characteristic traits to look for in a friend as well as how we can be to be a real friend to others.  We will never be perfect all or even most of the time, but if we have a supportive friends we  an still enjoy the journey through life.

  • Counting My Blessings: Week In Review

    Happy November!!!  Not sure how 2016 has flown by so quickly, but here we are in November already.  November is a wonderful month to reflect on the blessings that we encounter each and everyday of our lives.  Even if you are going through a tough time and you have to look a little deeper there is always something we can be thankful for throughout the day.  May this month be not only a time of reflection of the blessings in your life, but that we actively show our gratitude to people around us in our life.  Reach out to someone each day this month and genuinely thank them for something they have done that has blessed you or the positive impact they have made or the encouragement that they have been in your life.  Maybe if we make it a habit to do this for a month we’ll develop a habit of naturally looking for the blessings and taking time to say thank you to those in our lives throughout the entire year.

    It was a wonderful trip to Kansas to visit my parents and extended family, but it is awesome being back home with Jake and the girls again.  They picked me up at the airport with smiles, treats, and big hugs.  Always nice being back home with the family again.  After getting me at the airport we went to dinner at TGI Friday’s.  Dinner was fun and relaxing as we shared stories about our adventures the past few days.  The girls did homework in the van that way everyone could shower and get ready for the next day as soon as we got home.

    I want to be accountable to you so the following are snip-its of some of the things I am thankful for this past week.

    Counting My Blessings – Week In Review:

    Monday –Thankful for my Mom driving me to the airport, that my flights all went well, and that I was back with Jake and the girls at home once again.

    Tuesday – Thankful for a job that allows me to travel occasionally and for co-workers who pitch in to help out while I am gone.

    Wednesday – Thankful Jake and everything he does to help out around the house, and with the kids.  Enjoy having some down time and catching up at the end of our day together.

    Thursday – Thankful that we got to see Karlie perform in her 1st Orchestra Concert tonight.  She did awesome!  All that practice is starting to pay off.  She just started playing too.  At the concert she was in several duets and small group performances as well as the entire orchestra.

    Friday – Thankful that the girls were able to attend the Student Council Leadership Pep Rally today.  They left before school started and got back right as it ended.  They had a fun day meeting other student council members from the area, going to workshops, games, and getting to know their student council team members.  They were exhausting by the end of the day, but had a grand time.  After a long day of work followed by weekly errands with the girls after school it was wonderful to come home and smell dinner cooking and my Handsome Man in the kitchen.  He timed it perfectly by the time we had the groceries carried into the house he was ready with dinner and it was DELICIOUS!!!  Thank you Babe!

    Saturday – Thankful that the girls had an opportunity to do Community Service work through their Student Council Committee today.  They scraped and repainted their school’s bases for their flag pole and light posts.  Surprisingly they did not come home completely covered in paint (only a few spots of yellow and purple).  Grateful for a chance to celebrate fall with the family, instead of dressing up and going Trick-R-Treating on Halloween the girls have chosen to do a family Halloween celebration at home – carving pumpkins, making different flavored pumpkin seeds, a special dinner, and an evening to relax and spend together as a family.

    Sunday – Thankful for my family, none of us are perfect and we live in a broken world, yet we have so much to be thankful for each day and having a family as well as a place to call home isn’t something everyone has the privilege to enjoy.  Grateful for a chance to hang out with Jake, Brina, and Karlie today as well as prep as we gear up for another busy week ahead.

    What are you thankful for today?  I encourage you to take the time to write down a few blessings that you have in your life today.  It will help cheer you up and turn your focus on the amazing blessings you encounter each day.

  • What’s for Dinner: Our Weekly Menu Plan

    Thankful for a weekend with family and an opportunity to catch up on laundry as well as some other items around the house.  Our family celebrated Halloween over the weekend by carving pumpkins, eating a special meal, and hanging out together for a fun family night.  As we gear up for another busy week of school, work, appointments, and a multitude of other activities going on I want to keep the dinner menu easy and efficient for everyone.

    By the time we get home from work and school,  activities, do homework, pack lunches for the next day, prep for the next day, shower, and spend a little time together there is not much time for elaborate meals at home.  Thankfully we can have more fancy time consuming meals over the weekend when our schedule is a little bit more flexible.  As long as I prep the night before everything will be ready to go in the evening once the crew arrives home.  We try not to eat out very often and to make healthy meals at home, however, in order to do it we need to plan and prep ahead of time.  Grateful for my crockpot and other kitchen tools that assist in making home-cooked meals at home with the family possible even with a busy schedule.   Here is our menu plan for the upcoming week:

    Our Weekly Menu Plan

    • Monday (Beef or Pasta Entree):  Cube Steak, Steamed Vegetables
    • Tuesday (Seafood, Soup, Salad, or Sandwich Entree):  Seafood Tacos, Black Beans
    • Wednesday (Chicken or Vegetarian Entree):   Grilled Mustard Chicken, Tagiatelle Pasta
    • Thursday (Pork Entree or Kid‘s Night to Cook):  Mesquite Pork Loin, Apple Slices
    • Friday, Saturday, & Sunday:  Leftovers, Family Preference, and Hosting

    I have a general pattern I try to follow for my weekly Menu Plan (for example Monday we have a beef or pasta entree and so forth).  It is my goal, at least in the beginning, to have at least the main dish and one side planned.  I will put together the remaining side dishes (veggies / fruits) based on the food items that need to be used up first and compliment the main entree.

    Setting a weekly menu plan helps me utilize my time better, thus freeing up extra time to spend with my family.  On the days that I am working longer hours I can prep the meal in advance so it will be easier to pull together once I am home.  As I go through the menu planning process I will try to share some of our favorite family recipes.  If there is a specific recipe you would like please let me know and I will do my best to accommodate (some recipes are a toss together meal and I do not use any set measurements).

    As a family of four our life can get busy.  What’s for Dinner is our weekly menu planning series and one of the ways to help keep us organized, on schedule, and within budget.  Our family typically eats 6 to 7  dinner meals at home a week.  We do try to go out to eat at least once a month as a special treat.  Breakfasts are eaten at home before work and school, lunches are eaten at work, school, or home, so dinner is our main meal together as a family.  Dinner is our time to reconnect, share, and enjoy being together after a busy day.  Our weekly menu plan covers Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday only because the weekend (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday) is our time to spend with family and friends.  The weekends tend to be more spontaneous and my husband (who is the better cook) likes pitching in therefore we keep the menu open for variety.  We use up the leftovers throughout the week for our lunches and on the nights that we are busy or can’t cook.

    Photo by Liz